Preparation and Application of a Blueberry Anthocyanin@ZIF-8 Nanocomplex in Active Intelligent Wheat Gluten Protein Films

In this study, a pH-sensitive material BAE@ZIF-8 nanocomplex with enhanced photo-thermal stability using blueberry anthocyanin (BAE) in combination with the metal-organic framework ZIF-8 was prepared. Further, a novel intelligent indicator film was prepared as a pH core indicator using the solution casting method. BAE@ZIF-8 significantly improved the temperature and optical stability of BAE. The encapsulation within ZIF-8 simultaneously improved stability without compromising pH/ammonia responsiveness, a critical trade-off often encountered in anthocyanin-based indicators. The tensile strength of the film was enhanced to 1.12 MPa, and the WVP and WS were reduced to 1.04 × 10 -7 g.m/m 2 .Pa.s and 30.19% by doping BAE@ZIF-8 into the WG and AP matrices, while the UV shielding properties of the film were effectively improved. Compared to the WG-AP/B-ZIF-8 films, the BAE@ZIF-8 nanocomplexes exhibited more homogeneous dispersion and excellent retention of structural integrity. The BAE@ZIF-8 gluten film enhanced color stability, providing a foundation for improved intelligent monitoring materials.